Wladimir or Vitali - Who was the best

Depends... the quick-return 1-2 directly off a block or parry can still be termed a counter punch.

 

Having listened to Klit fans for over a decade, I was always under the impression that they were a single entity.

 

Vitali better h2h and on resume/legacy. Sure Wlad had more top wins because he fought more, but Vits best wins (Sanders Peter) were better than Wlad's top wins. And Vitali had vastly fewer losses, and the losses were better quality (ie only losing to injury in fights he was winning as opposed to getting sparked out or dominated on points). On fighter qualities, VK was bigger, much better chin, better reflexes, defense and movement, much better stamina, punch output and variety. Only thing Wlad had over Vit was power and fluidity.

 

True I would regard that as counter punching but Wlad doesn't even do this much from what I've seen. He simply moves, parry's, spoils until he gets a chance to lead again. When an opponent opens up on him he goes full on defensive, he doesn't really counter much, if at all and just waits for his opponent to stop punching or clinches to force them to reset when he can then look to lead again and beat his opponent to the punch.

Compare this to Vitali who utilises a pull counter a lot, has that low hands style, leans forward much like RJJ used to do, looks to draw a shot from his opponent, leans back and then counters with the right or a left hook. Wlad doesn't have the skills of reflexes to fight like that. Wlad's all about staying at a distance but getting off first and then clinching or moving away to avoid being countered. He doesn't look to draw fighters in and counter.

 

This, both excellent posts.

Wlad in terms of legacy and H2H Vitali. Both brothers said that if they fought each other it would be a brutal affair, and Wlad's chin is going to give up before Vitali's does.

If Wlad had Vitali's chin he'd be undefeated imo.

 

Wlad is

 

Vitali only truely 'lost' to one fighter, an ATG (#3 on my list) and he was ahead at the time of stoppage.
That fighter wanted no part of a rematch.


Wlad lost to Purity, Brewster, and Sanders, none of which were anything special.

Wlad is clearly the greater fighter by resume, and had more appealing boxing skills to the purists.

But Vitali would always beat the livin' $hit out of little brother if he was of a mind to.

 

I'm not sure we saw the best of Vitali, the four year injury lay off were probably going to be his best years.

 

Wlad the more talented and 'greater' of the two. Vitali not far behind him though and possibly better H2H - think Vitali having the best chin of all time keeps him in the running.

 

I would have to say at their absolute peaks that Wlad had just a little more athleticism and speed and power and was maybe a little bit more intelligent.

 

I would agree with this. H2H, I'd go with Vitali if only because of the chin, but clearly Wlad has the better resume and will always rank higher on ATG lists.

 

Vitali was the better of the two, Vitali was a true warrior with great distance, timing and an iron chin...................however, Vlad had more natural talent. Vlad always said that Vitali would have beaten him in a real fight..................come to think of it, Vitali's talent was very underrated, very..............and Vitali was an awesome kick boxer, six time world kick boxing champion, both amateur and pro, should have seen him fight as a kick boxer, turly awesome!!!!!!! Vitali should come out of retirement and quickly knock Wilder out for the fun of it, it would be an easy knockout even with the layoff and age......................afterall, Vitali is champion Emeritus!!!!!!!

 

Vitali was always the better fighter, more entertaining and exciting to watch. He had an iron jaw unlike his brother Wlad.

When Vitali made his comeback from retirement, he still had it after 4 years out. He went in against a TOP HW in Peter, and smashed him to bits. Meanwhile a fraud like Haye fights a farcical nobody in De Mori, who is paid to take a dive.

I truly believe if Vitali had went into boxing and not started in kickboxing, and not got the injuries from kickboxing he would have had a far better career.

 

vitali doesnt make ATG, so kinda of academic point

 

There have been some very solid replies in this thread. It's during the wee hours of the morning in my part of the World, so I'll just keep my little two cents worth short.

At the end of the day... after all has been said and done... when comparing the brothers, I will remember Wladimir Klitschko as having the superior fundamentals from a "textbook boxing" standpoint. I will also remember him having the edge in terms of longevity. He's going to end up higher on the ATG list in large part because of that longevity, which can be attributed to his drive and ability to continue devoid of serious injury. However... purely from a head-to-head perspective, I firmly rate Vitali Klitschko ahead of him.

If they both fought at their best (since they both peaked at different times) Vitali wins... and likely by stoppage. We've all had some wrong picks in our lives, but this is one of the most surefire bets anyone could make. Vitali is just all wrong for Wladimir. That's a terrible matchup for the younger brother Klitschko.

These are facts, which speak for themselves really. Just as straight forward as it gets.

Vitali also beat Ross Puritty to a pulp, whereas a younger "still green" Wladimir gassed out and got bossed around the ring at the end of that match (prior to the stoppage). Wladimir still being a bit inexperienced is the reason why I don't count the Puritty loss against him that much.